Rotary plow



Nov. 3, 19

J. SCHAEFFERS OTARY W Filed i 50.1928 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W VENTOR,

.WLPH SCHREFFE S I B Patented-Nov. 3, 1931 umrso sures so scanner, or wrcre, senses norms snow Application sled January 3%), 1923. fileriel lilo, seer-in This invention relates psrticulerly to e rotary low.

An ject of the invention is to provide in crotary plow, e pair of se crate end related 5 plowing rotors arranged s sntwise to the divide e. tractor or rection of movement of the plow, to obteina, plowin area, substentially len he 0 both plowin rotors.

further object of the invention is to pro- ,nlowing vehicle herin c drive sheila extended therefrom end tilllng members extended outwardly on catch of the opposite sides of said drive sheft and slowed beck slightly therefrom, each tilling memequel to the harin a plurality of spaced and circum'fen and form e specs between them on ting edges 0 eecli lad-e will enter the soil et a slant, thereby reducing the power rescription, it is desired fp cover the invention quired for'entering the blades into the soil, below that uired for entering cutters into the soil at rig is angles thereto; to provide as rotary plowin which the ereagilowed is con tinuous and uninterrupted an substantially greater than the width of the to g vehicle; and to provide a rotary plow operated by e. driving mechanism that incompletely housed to protect the operating parts from being effected by dust, dirt, and the like.

I In this specification and the annexed drew-' ings, the invention is illustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to be understoocl that thewinvention is not limited to such form, because itmay beembodied in other forms; and it is also to be understood that in and by the claims following the de- -in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

ground at selective in the eccomnsnying two sheets of drew l%ig. 1 represents at side elevation of s.

rotary plow constructed in occordence with my invention.

Fig. 2 is on enlarged cross section telzen through Fig. 3 on the line 2-2, showing the method of constructing the plow blede rotor:

Fig. 3 is e; ion section of the psir of plowin%rotors to on on the line 3-3 of Fig, 2.

. ig. l is e cross section token through. one of the bolts for securing the cutting binds to the spring finger,

I The majority of rctery plows end rotery cultivstors ore provided with choin drives connected to the outside ends of the ,low or cultivator driving shelts, The dies -venlegs of the ehsin drive, housing the some snficicntly well to protect it from dust end dirt accumulations, end else the necessity of telfing up the sleek in. said obs-ins. Bevel geer drives here also been used to drive the rotor-y plow, but with this construction it is else on dificult matter to properly house the operating parts. In some instances the plowing member has been pro" is the dificnlty of vided with as cut out portion in the center thereof, into which the customary eutomo bile t pc of center-drive is extended to re tote t e rotary plow, but construction is objectionable in thetthe center specs forms o strip, the width of the specs, that remains unplcwed. 'ln some rotary lows, on edditionel plow, such as e moul boerd plow, is used to break up this unplowed center strip, but this does not meke as good at job as by hsvin the plowing rotor make e cut of the full width with the initial plowing operation,

such as my device contemplates.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawings comprises e motor driven vehicle or trsctor 1, having front end reer tractionwheels 2 end 3 thereon. The vehicle 1 is provided with a, freme 4 mounted on an axle housing 5, within ivhich mechanism for driving the rear traction wheels'3, is contained.

- A motor 6 is provided on the vehicle 1 and is o e speed or variable speed connected to a. clmn mechanism 7 for dnving the tractor over the rates of speed. Change speed gearing 7 is mounted adjacent the main driving transmission 7 and is connected by a drive shaft 8 and meshing beveled gears 9 and 10, tothe axles for driving the traction wheels 3. The main drive shaft from the engine is connected by a clutch 11 to the transmission 7 and to a driven shaft 12 contained withinthe vehicle transmission. The driven shaft 12 extends to a point adjacent the rear ill end of the vehicle and is: housed in a'universal joint housin 12'.

A hollow or tub ar arm 13 has a universal joint 14 at one end thereof, that is universally connected to the universal joint con-. nection 12' on the vehicle, whereby the arm 13 maybe swung either in lateral directions, or to and from the traction surface.

The rear end of the arm 13 communicates with an enlarged gear housing 15. A driven shaft 16 is j ournaled within the arm 13, being universally connected-at one end thereof to the driven transmission shaft 12 extended from the engine, and having the opposite end of said driven shaft 16 rotatably ournal-ed within an enlarged housing 15. The shaft 16 within the housing 15, is reduced in diameter, at 17, and a pair of anti-friction bearings 18 and 19 are mounted in. spaced relation on said shaft. A casing 20 contains at its opposite ends anti-friction bearings 18 and 19, on which the shaft 16 is free to rotate within the hollow casing 20. I

The side walls of the housin are slanted or ta ered and are not para el to the axis of the s aft 16. The purpose of providing angularly disposed side faces on the housing 15 is to form right angled bearing supports for transversely extended tilling members, each of which are adapted to extend rearwardly, slantwise, and not at exactly ri ht angles to the path of movement of the tilling machine.

Diametricall opposite sides of the casin are faced 0 an the shaft flanges 22 an a 23 are securely bolted thereto. A shaft 24 is secured to the plate 22 and projects outward 1y through a bearing opening 25 in the casing 15 at a rearwardl mclined angle to the axis of the shaft 16. similar shaft 26 is secured to the opposite plate 23 and projects outward- 1y through-the bearing port 27 in the opposite side of the housing 15 at a rearwardly inclined angle, that is complementary to the placement of the other shaft 24. Theaxes'of the shafts 24 and 26 extend slantwise rearwardly on opposite sides of the axis of the main shaft 16, so that the tilling members to be mounted on the said shafts 24 and 26, in the manner to be hereinafter described, will enter the soil to be plowed or tilled at a slant angle rather than at right angles to the direction of movement of the tilling vehicle, as will be hereinafter explained in detail.

A drum or rotor 30 is. rotatably jounialed at its opposite ends on roller bearings 31 and 32 that are mounted adjacent the opposite ends of the shaft 24. A similar drum or rotor 33 is mounted on similar supporting bearings journaled on the shaft 26 adjacent each of itsopposite ends. The ends of the shafts 24 and 26 are suitably threaded to receive lock nuts 34 thereon, for the purpose of holding,

each of the rotors 30 and 33 in a predeterggined position on each of the shafts 24 and The end of the rotor 30 is reduced in diameter where it passes into the casing 15, being suitably journaled and packed at 36 in the bearing opening .25 formed in the housing 15. A bevel gear 37 is provided on the end of the rotor 30 and meshes with a driving bevel pinion 38 that is fixed on the reduce end 17 of the driven shaft 16. A bevel gear 39 of lesser diameter than'the bevel gear 37 is'secured to the end of the rotor 33 within the housing 15, and said bevel gear 39 meshes with a driven bevel pinion 40 onthe end-of the shaft 17. The bevel pinions 38 and 40 face each other on the shaftl'i'. s'o' that in meshing with the gears 37 and 39, said bevel gears, and consequently the rotors 30 and 33, will rotate in thesame direction. Although I have shown and described 'a particular'type of driving mechanism within the housin 15, it is to be understood that it would be c ear ly within the scope of the invention to'substitute some other f rm of drivin nism therefor, capabl of rotating t e drums or rotors 30 and 33 i the manner to be described.

Each of the rotors 30 and 33 are provided with a plurality of projections 'or lugs 41 arranged in spaced circumferential relation therearound. I have shown the embossments 41 arranged adjacent each of the opposite ends of the rotors, although it would be clearly within the purview of the invention to make a different arrangement of the said In Each projection 41 is provided witha hole 42 drilled throughout i'na direction substantially tangentially to the circumference of the rotor. An end 43 of a ground tilling or cutting finger 44 is held in each of the projections. A ock. nut 45, threadedly engages the end of the tilling tool 44 within the projection. to hold the tillin tool securely locked thereon. Each groun tilling or cutting finger 44 consists of a length -'of metal bar stock suitably bent to form a spring-convm tilled or plowed. Each of'the blades mechaheld to the free ends of the 'sprin fingers by a nut and bolt assembly 47 in or er to facilitate quick mounting and demountin of the blades from the spring lingers. A though I have shown the blades mounted on the outer ends of the spring fingers, with sharpened edges, it is to be understood that the blades mightbe entirely omitted 'from the construction and the spring fingers themselves sharpsued to 7 tion. T e word blades as used hereln is defined to mean any sharpened cuttinsr device mounted around the periphery o? the rotor, to perform the tilling or plowing oper- 'ation.

As hereineftcr set forth, the shafts 24' and v 26 that sup ort the plowing blede rotors, are

not in aria ell nment, nor do l contemplate that e. single s aft might be extended outwerdly equidistantly on opposite sides of the driving arm, as is the case with some types of rotor-y plows and rotary cultivetors. Where e single sheit rotor plow is used with'tilling or cutting rnern' rs on each of the opposite ends thereof, it necessitates that.

the cutting arms be elimineted from the center, due to the fact thet the tilling member is driven from the center by the vehicle en= gins. V In my invention 1 provide separate rotors, each one otwhich is connected at on end thereof to the source or power end each of the lowing members is positioned rearwardly, s cntwise, therefrom so thet the lowing eludes stone the cert oi? the tillin: de

'.. vice interloo end oresent e plowing surface that extends the length of both rotors. With my construction, the plowing rotors plow or cut the ground ecross'the entire length ozi' hoth rotors end it is not necesserw to our oloy some rhesus such es s middle buster or would boerd plow to breeh up the soil that is not plowed hy the rotors. lhe interlu, ping oi the cutting bledes at the heels side or the rotors, due to the slsnting orrengement thereof? on the vehicle, sores e. specs hetween the facing; ends or the rotors on the front side thereof, through which the driven shaft 16 from the vehicle extends, to convey the driving power to the rotor-y plowing rnernhers,

Esch of the cutting blsdes ore of the knife type, end the slontwise placement of the totors on the vehicle, metres it possible for the blades to enter the soil with their cutting edge et e slent to the direction of movement of the vehicle and reduces the loower required for cutting or plowing the soil, below that of arotor cutting at right engles to the direc tion 0% movement of the vehicle. .it the some time the blades can be set so es to lift the soil at substontielly right angles to the direction of travel so that the plowed soil is thrown backwerds end not sidewise. The spring finger mountings for the cutting blades will yield or give if the cutting tool should strike rescuers rform the tilting or plowing ace shown no the shape of knife blades and of" the double edged type, and are so curved that they are self-sharpening. The soil that is out by one edge passes over the edge that is not cutting and iii-such away as to have s sharpening efiect so that the blades need only an occasional reversing.

A hood or cover 50 is mounted over the rotors 30 and 33 and the opposite ends of said hood are supported on the ends otthe rotor shafts 2d and 26. A cable 511 is connected to the hood 5%, and said cable supports the plowing rotors in position over the ground to be tilled or plowed. The'opposite end of the cable passes around a drum or .windless 53 mounted on the towing vehicle, said cable drum being in turn connected to the engine transmission and opereted thereby for the purpose of reeling in'the cable and raising the plowing blades relativeto the trection suri'ece. A broke drum otis connected to the cable druin ond *by meens ot the brake drum, the cable drum may be held in any selected. position in order to support the plowing rotors in soy desired position reletive to the ground to be plowed. The unirersel joint connection hetween the plowing bledes end the tilling vehicle, permits the seid plowing bludes to he raised or lowered st will, end the plowingXdevice opereted at soy and ell desired le'vels.

Having thus described this invention, whet it cleirn end desireto secure by lietters Petis z.

l. A rotery plow coniorised of separate to tery members having the axes thereof orronged at on en is to each other; e plurality oi plowing ble es orrenged in spaced, circurnterentiel relation around each of the ro tery members, the diselignment of the rotary members plecin the plowing blades on one rotary member in interlepping relationship with the plowing blades on the other rotary member; and means to edvence the plow over the ground.

Q. A rotary plow comprised-otseperete rotary members having the axes thereof orronged et en angle to eachother; e plurality of plowing; blades orronged in spaced, cir= cuneferentiel relation around each of the rotnry members, the diselignment of the rotary members placing the plowing blades on one rotery member in interlepping relationship with the plowing blades on the other rotery member; end moons to rotate etch or" the rotary members with the plowing bledes thereon in unison. I

3. A plowing device comprised of a traction vehicleeseparate rotary members having the axes thereof arranged st an angle to each other and at substantially right angles tics to the path of movement of the traction veplurality of plowing blades arranged in 5 spaced, circumferential relation around each of the rotary members, the blades on facing ends of each of the members moving in interlapping relation to form an uninterrupted plowing surface across substantially the entire length of both rotary members.

' 4. A plowing device comprised of a traction vehicle; separaterotary members having the axes thereof arranged at an angle to the path of movement of the traction vehicle; means on the traction vehicle to rotate each of the separate rotary members; means to raise and lower the rotary members in unison relative to the ground to be plowed; and a plurality of plowing blades arranged in spaced, circumferential relation around each of the rotary members, the blades on facing ends ofeach of the members moving in interlapping relation to form an uninterrupted plowing surface across substantially the entire length of both rotary members.

5. A'plow comprised of a tractor; and separate plowing members adj ustably connected to said tractor, each of said plowing members havingblades arranged in spaced, circumferential relation thereon and laterally to the path of travel ofthe tractor, the blades on facing. ends of each of the members rotating in interlapping relation to form an uninterrupted plowing surface across the entire length of both plowin members.

'6. A plow comprise of a tractor; separate plowing members adjustably connected to said tractor, each of said plowing members having blades arranged in spaced, circumferential relation thereon and laterally to the path of travel of the tractor, the blades 7 on facing ends of each of the members rotating in; interlapping relation to form an uninterrupted plowing surface across the enmeans on the tractor to raise and lower the plowing members relative to the ground to be plowed. a

7. A low comprised of a tractor; separate plowing members adjustably connected to said tractor, each of said plowing members having blades arranged in spaced, circumferential relation thereon and laterally to the path of travel ofthe tractor, the blades on facing ends of each of the members rotating in interlapping relation throughout apart,

of a revolution to form an uninterrupted plowing surface across the entire length of both plowing members; and means to rotate each of the plowing members from the tractor.

8. A rotary'plow comprised of a frame having a pair of casings. rotatably mounted thereon; a rime mover on said frame to rotate each 0 the casings; and plowing blades rotating in interlapping relation throughout tire length of both plowing members; and

on'-each casing and'at substantially right angles to the path of travel of the plow, the blades on facing ends of each of the casings a part of a revolution to form an uninterrupted plowing face across the entire length of bot -casings.- y

9. A rotary plow comprised of a frame having a pair of casings rotatably mounted thereon; a prime mover on said frame to rotate each of the casings; plowing blades arranged in spaced, circumferential relation on each casing and at substantially right angles to the path of travel of the plow, the blades on facing ends of each of the casin rotatingininterlapping relation throng out a part of a revolution to form an uninterrupted lowing face. across the entire length of 0th casings; and means on the frame to raise and lower the plowing blade casings relative to the ground to beplowed.

10. A rotary plow comprised of a frame; a pair of independent casings rotatably mounted on saidframe, each casing having plowing blades in spaced, circumferential relation therearound, and having the axes of the casings out of axial ali ent, whereby the blades on facing ends 0 each of the casings rotate in interlapping relation throughout a art of a revolution to form a continuous p owing area across the entire le h of both casings and on the opposite side acing plowing blades are spaced apart; and a drivmg means on the frame extended through the space between the ends of the facing blades to rotate the plowing blade casings.

11. A rotary plow comprised of a frame; a pair of independent casings rotatably mounted on said frame, each casing having plowing blades in spaced, circumferential refacing plowing blades are spaced apart; a

drivin means on the frame extended throng the space between the ends of the; facing blades to rotate the glowing blade casings; and means on the me to raise and lower the plowing blade casings relative to the traction surface. 7 I

12. A rotary plow comprised of a frame havin an engine thereon; a drive shaft ex-- tende from said engine; rotors extended outwardly on an inclined" angle on opposite sides of the drive shaft, and transversel -to the path of movement of the p'low; and p owing blades arranged in spaced, circumferential relation around said rotors. v

, 13. A rotary plow comprised of a frame having an engine thereon; a drive shaft err-I4 tended from said engine; rotors extended out wardly on an inclined angle on opposite sides of the drive shaft, and transversely to the ath of movement of the plow; and lowing )lades arranged in spaced, circum erential relation around said rotors, the blades on the facing ends of said rotors moving in interlapping relationship throughout a part of a lades arranged in spaced, circum revolution to form a continuous plowing face across the entire length of both rotors. 1%. A rotary plow comprised of a frame having an enginethereon; a drive shaft ex-v wardly on an inclined angle on opposite sides of the drive shaft, and transversely to the ath of movement of the plow; lowing lades arranged in spaced, 'circum erential relation around said rotors, the blades on the facing ends of said rotors moving in interlapping relationship throughout a )art of a revolution to form a continuous p owing face across the entire length of both rotors; and means on the frame to raise and lower the plowing blade rotors ground to be plowed.

16. A rotary plow comprised of a pair of driven rotors arranged in angular alignment to each other; sets of spring fingers projected radially outward from eac rotor circumference in spaced relation therearound; plow blades secured to the spring fingers whereby all plow blades lie in concentric relation to the rotor axis, the facing ends of the plow 5 blades on each of the rotors interlapping throughout a portion of their path of rotation due to the angular placement of the ro tors and forming a space between the facing plow blade'e'nds on aside opposite the interlapping ends, through which means to drive the rotors extends.

17. A tilling machine comprising amotor driven vehicle; an arm having a universal joint connection withthe rear portion of the vehicle; transversely extending rotary tilling members comprised of a. pain of independent rotors, each being journaled at an end thereof in the rear end portion of the arm; and a driven gear on the journaled end of each tilling member; a drive shaft ex-' tended thru the arm; a pair of driving gears on the shaft, each of said driving gears meshing with one of the driven gears, said driven 66 gears being at an angle to each other.

the tilling .ing gears on the shaft, each relative to the g 18. A tilling machine comprising a motor driven vehicle; anarm having a universal joint connection with the rear portion of the vehicle; transversely extending rotary tilling members comprised of a pair of independent rotors, each being journaled at an end thereof in arm; a driven gear on the journaled end of each tilling member; a drive shaft extended thru the arm; a pair of driving gears on the shaft, each ofsaid driving gears meshing with one of the driven gears, said driven gears being at an angle to each other; and means for regulating the depth of the cut of member.

19. A tilling machine comprising a motor driven vehicle; an arm having a universal joint connection with therear portion of the 1 vehicle; transversely extending rotary tilli-ng members comprising a pair of independent rotors each having. an end thereof journaled in the rear end each rotor extending rearwardly slantwise from said arm; a driven gear on the jour naled end of each tilling member; a drive shaft extended thru the arm; apair of drivof said driving gears meshing with one of the driven gears, said driven gears being at an angle t'oeach other; and means for regulating the depth of the cut of the tilling member.

the rear end portionof the y portion of the arm, and

In testimon whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at an Francisco, California, this 14th day of November, 1927.

JOSEPH. SCHAEFFERS. 

